The Gift of Jesus | Week One
The Gift of Gold: Finding Joy in the King
Begin by sharing prayer requests and praying for one another
Read Matthew 2:1-12 aloud as a group
Key Takeaways
This week we explored the gift of gold that the wise men brought to Jesus in Matthew 12:1-12, revealing that Jesus is the King to be worshiped.
Everyone is a worshiper - We will devote ourselves to something; the question is what or whom.
Three responses to Jesus – Hostile (Herod), Indifferent (Religious Leaders), or Joyful (Wise Men)
True joy is found in Jesus alone - Not in possessions, success, or circumstances, but in the person of Christ.
Discussion Questions:
Three Responses to Jesus. The sermon highlighted three different responses to Jesus: Indifference (religious scholars), Hostility (Herod), and Joy (wise men).
Which of these three responses do you see most commonly in our culture today? Why?
Have you ever found yourself being indifferent to Jesus despite knowing a lot about Him? What causes that disconnect?
What areas of your life might you be hostile to Jesus's lordship without realizing it?
Knowing About vs. Truly Knowing. The religious leaders knew about God and could answer Herod's question correctly, but they didn't pursue Jesus themselves.
What's the difference between knowing about Jesus and truly knowing Jesus?
How can we move from head knowledge to heart relationship with Jesus?
The Journey of the Wise Men. These wealthy, powerful men traveled over 900 miles for many months to find and worship Jesus.
What does their response teach us about the value and worth of Jesus?
What "journey" or sacrifice might God be calling you to make to pursue Jesus more deeply?
Exceedingly Great Joy. Matthew uses four Greek words to describe the wise men's joy: "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy."
Why do you think the wise men had such overwhelming joy at finding Jesus?
What circumstances in your life are competing with Jesus for your joy?
This Week’s Discipleship Rhythm: Worship & Sacrificial Generosity
Worship Audit - Take inventory of what you're actually worshiping (where your time, money, thoughts, and energy go). Journal about what competes with Jesus for your worship.
Sacrificial Generosity - The wise men gave costly gifts. What could you sacrificially give (time, resources, comfort) to honor Jesus this Christmas season?